Progress on Main Fire as Spot Fires Emerge
Firefighters have secured the southern, western, and northern perimeters of the Upper Smith Fire as containment efforts intensify in the remote Smith Creek drainage northwest of Bonners Ferry. The main fire section remains locked down on those three flanks, though a spot fire discovered Friday afternoon on the south side of Long Canyon Creek has drawn additional crew attention.
As of the latest briefing, the Upper Smith Fire had consumed roughly 1,929 acres and stood at approximately 13% containment. The blaze, ignited by lightning between July 7 and 8, continues to present significant resource demands across Bonner County’s northwest corner, roughly 20 miles from Bonners Ferry.
Crews conducted a deliberate firing operation to reduce fuel loads, pushing the main fire down to hand line at Long Canyon Creek Trail and near Westside Road. On the fire’s southern flank, dozer and hand line crews worked near the Porker Ridge Fire scar along Canyon Creek, tackling terrain that earlier fires had already scarred. The discovery of the spot fire prompted rapid response, with crews mobilizing to contain the secondary blaze before it could establish further.
Resource Deployment and Overnight Operations
A total of 440 personnel remain assigned to the Upper Smith Fire, including six helicopters, 11 hand crews, 12 engines, 14 water tenders, and assorted heavy equipment. The sizeable deployment reflects the fire’s scale and the challenging topography of the Smith Creek drainage.
Firefighting operations extended into the early morning hours, with crews working until 3 to 4 a.m. to maintain momentum. Those efforts face additional pressure as a red flag warning looms for Saturday, signaling potential for increased fire behavior and spread risk across the region.
Officials acknowledge that Long Canyon Creek represents an open-ended boundary where the fire is expected to burn through the remainder of the season. “You will see fire burning up in Long Canyon at some degree for the rest of the season,” according to an incident management statement, indicating September or October before containment is fully achieved in that drainage.
Evacuation Status and Public Restrictions
Residents in the affected area remain under “Go” evacuation status following an evacuation order issued Tuesday afternoon. The Boundary County Fairgrounds has been designated as a rally point for evacuees. Deputies maintain a roadblock at the intersection of Big Bend and Kerr Lake roads to manage traffic and enforce evacuation boundaries.
Smith Creek Road and Long Canyon Trail remain closed to public travel. Parker Ridge Trail is in the process of being closed as well. Temporary flight restrictions are in effect over the fire zone, and officials have reported private drones operating within the restricted airspace—a safety violation that has grounded helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft during critical firefighting windows. “There’s no issues there. It’s just a patrol show,” according to incident management, regarding the enforcement of the restricted airspace.
Regional Fire Activity
The Upper Smith Fire is not Bonner County’s only active blaze. Several smaller fires have also been reported across the region in recent weeks. The Cataract Peak Fire burned approximately one-third acre after being reported July 24 and was declared out by July 28. The Porcupine Fire, reported the same day, consumed 3.5 acres. The Hudlow Creek Fire burned one-tenth acre after being reported July 26 and was quickly declared out the same day. The Fernan Fire, reported July 28, burned approximately one-quarter acre and was reported out by July 29. The Turner Fire, a larger blaze, consumed 681 acres and reached 100% containment.
The Upper Smith Fire remains the dominant incident in Bonner County’s firefighting operations, demanding the bulk of available resources and personnel.
What Comes Next
Fire officials expect continued operations through the weekend and beyond as crews work to solidify containment on the main fire and extinguish the spot fire threat. The red flag warning predicted for Saturday will likely present the most challenging conditions in coming days. Containment progress will depend heavily on crew efficiency, helicopter operations free from airspace violations, and weather cooperation. Residents should monitor local emergency management channels for evacuation status updates, and the public is urged to respect all closures and flight restrictions in the fire zone. For more information on regional fire safety, readers can review coverage of ongoing Upper Smith Fire updates and multi-agency rescue coordination drills on Lake Pend Oreille.